By CONOR NICHOLL

cnicholl@dailynews.net

Thomas More Prep-Marian volleyball coach Lanee Young talked with senior Shaunna Ruder at the beginning of the season. Ruder had always been a quiet person during her first three years with the Monarchs and a reserve on TMP-Marian's volleyball, basketball and softball teams.

This fall, though, Ruder is one of three seniors for the Monarchs. Young asked Ruder to step up and be a vocal presence for a young team, a role Ruder has relished. TMP-Marian opens the season Thursday at 5 p.m. at the Abilene quadrangular.

"Step up and be a leader," Ruder said. "Talk as much as you can and encourage them so we have as much success as we can. I knew that since I was one of the older ones and had the experience, that I needed to step up and be a better leader, more of a leader than I have to have been in the past."

Ruder's presence is critical for an inexperienced squad that is much different than the TMP-Marian team that narrowly missed going to state last season. In the Class 3A sub-state semifinals, the Monarchs had three match points against Phillipsburg, but lost. The Panthers went on to finish as state runner-up. TMP-Marian's top three players, Kaylee Hoffman, Jessa Stramel and Sophia Schippers, all graduated.

"It's different, but it's fun," Ruder said. "I think we will be OK. There are new girls in the mix, but we have a good chemistry."

In addition, juniors Rachel Jacobs and Jenna Lang decided to run cross country. Sophomore Katelyn Schumacher, a starter in 2009, transferred to Hays High School. Senior Taylor Dinges, though, transferred in from Ness City.

"I believe that by the end of this season, we are going to be OK," Young said.

"It's right now, it really seems a little rocky because we are really getting used to each other because it is so young, but by the end of the season, I think we will be in good shape."

The lone starter back in senior Brianna Halligan, but she will miss two weeks. Halligan was playing volleyball in gym class and hit her hand wrong and needed a cast for her injury. Sophomore Megan Gottschalk and junior Emilie Taylor will replace Halligan as outside hitter. Dinges will play opposite Halligan.

"She is a great asset to our team," Young said of Dinges. "She is a good hitter and seems to be a pretty good passer, so if she is opposite Brianna, she will give us a strong outside force all the way around."

Junior Alyssa Vitztum and Ruder will play middle, junior Hollie Herbel could factor in at libero and junior Sarah Gottschalk will set. Sophomore Chloe Zimmerman could be the second setter, but missed the first week with a hip flexor injury. For now, though, Ruder has led the new Monarchs.

"She has been fantastic on the court with the younger group of kids," Young said. "On (Monday), we were trying to do a drill and she was just really encouraging and trying to tell people, just help them out, where they needed to go, what they needed to do, just helping them think through the process. I was so impressed because she is not a real talkative person, so it is cool to see her come out of her shell and say, 'You know, I can do this.' "